2 syllables: Co, vey. Stress on Co.
KUHV-ee
/ˈkʌvi/
Covey is pronounced KUHV-ee (/ˈkʌvi/). It has two syllables (Co-vey), with the stress on "Co". Covey is a small group of birds, typically of partridge or dove species, moving in a loosely organized, easily startled flock. The term can also refer to a small group of people or things, especially a company of field workers. In pronunciation usage, Covey is a proper noun when naming a group or a surname, and common in both rural and literary contexts.
nounCovey is a small group of birds, typically of partridge or dove species, moving in a loosely organized, easily startled flock. The term can also refer to a small group of people or things, especially a company of field workers. In pronunciation usage, Covey is a proper noun when naming a group or a surname, and common in both rural and literary contexts.
"- A covey of quail flushed from the brush as we walked the trail."
"- The field workers formed a covey, moving as a coordinated team."
"- The family name Covey appears in local records and historical documents."
Pronounce Covey as KO-vee, with two syllables and primary stress on the first: /ˈkoʊvi/ in US and UK IPA; Australian often aligns closely with /ˈkɒvi/ or /ˈkoʊvi/ depending on speaker. Start with a crisp /k/ release, then a long /oʊ/ vowel (or /ɒ/ in some AU accents), followed by a relaxed /v/ and a light /i/ at the end. Imagine saying ‘co’ as in ‘coal’ and then ‘vee’ as in the letter V. You’ll hear the stress clearly on the first syllable.
Common mistakes include flattening the first vowel into a short /ɪ/ or /ə/ and misplacing stress on the second syllable. Another error is lowering the /o/ toward a more open /ɒ/ in US speakers; keep the strong /oʊ/ (or /oʊ/-like glide). To correct: emphasize the /oʊ/ in the first syllable and ensure the final /i/ is light and quick. Practice with slow syllable taps: KO-vey, not co-VEE.
In US English, Covey is typically /ˈkoʊvi/ with a clear, diphthongal /oʊ/ and a non-rhotic ending; the /v/ is voiced, the final /i/ is short. In UK English, /ˈkəʊvi/ may shift vowel quality toward a rounded /əʊ/ in some dialects, with syllable reduction in rapid speech. Australian speakers often keep /ˈkɒvi/ or /ˈkoʊvi/ depending on region, with a shorter first vowel and similar final /i/. The main differences center on the vowel color and the exact length of the diphthong, while the stress remains on the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable structure with a diphthong in the first syllable and an unstressed, quick final vowel. English learners may mispronounce as CO-vee with a clipped second syllable or fail to articulate the diphthong clearly. Focus on a precise /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ glide in the first syllable and keep the final /i/ light and short. Practicing with minimal pairs that emphasize the diphthong helps stabilize the rhythm.
Is the first syllable ever pronounced as a schwa in Covey? Rarely in careful speech; Covey typically uses a stressed first syllable with a clear /oʊ/ or /o/ vowel. Some rapid speech or certain regional accents might tilt toward a reduced /ˈkəvi/ in casual contexts, but in careful articulation you’ll keep /koʊ/ or /koʊ/ throughout the first syllable. Always aim for a strong initial vowel with crisp consonants.
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Covey comes from the Middle English covey, which itself derives from the Old French couvée meaning a brood or litter. The word traveled through French into English during the medieval period, where it meant a laying or brooding of birds, especially partridges, indicating a group that had hatched or gathered. By the 16th-17th centuries, covey was established as a term for a small flock of birds, particularly quail and partridges, often encountered by hunters. The metaphorical use—referring to a small, coordinated group of people or things—emerges in the 19th century, drawing on the sense of a coordinated, moving unit. First known attestations appear in rural and hunting literature, and later in general use as a figurative descriptor for any cluster of individuals moving together. Over time, Covey retained its original biological sense while also becoming a common surname and place-name in English-speaking regions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Covey" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Covey"
-vie sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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